provocation

/ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃən/

Syllables pro·vo·ca·tion

Stress pro-vo-CA-tion

Phonics Breakdown

pro

/prɒ/

short o

vo

/və/

schwa

ca

/keɪ/

long a_e

tion

/ʃən/

tion ending

Meaning

an action or remark that causes annoyance, anger, or another reaction

Sound Reference

💡

pro=/prɒ/(problem) + vo=/və/(above) + ca=/keɪ/(cake) + tion=/ʃən/(nation)

Example

His comment was seen as a provocation rather than a joke.